Adjustable blind or shutter



y 6, 1957 J. HADARY 2,799,061

ADJUSTABLE BLIND 0R SHUTTER Filed July 10, 1953 Jim fnz/enizr'" Josey/z fiadarly United States atent C 2,799,061 7 ADJUSTABLE BLIND R SHUTTER Joseph Hadary, Evanston, Ill.

Application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,245

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-62) The present invention relates generally to :improvements in shutters or blinds and more particularly to improvements in that form of shutter or blind which 'is'provided with slats which are adjustable to-opened or closed positions and to the method of making the same.

Adjustable blinds have been made in one form or another for over a hundred years. During 'this period, considerable effort has been expended in an attempt to develop an adjustable blind which is of simple, inexpensive construction and which may be easily repaired 'when damaged. In spite of all this effort, no one has been able to produce a blind which may be said to be anideal commercial construction.

I have developed a blind which is more satisfactory than any of the prior art blinds. My improvedblindis of the general type wherein the slats are assembled within an inner frame which'is then inserted into an outer structural frame such as a door or window 'frame,thuswforming in effect a double framed structure.

The principal objects of the present invention are -to provide a novel adjustable blind construction which may be assembled in a simple manner; to provide an adjustable blind having a novel coupling between the slats and the operating bar or tilt rod; to provide an adjustable blind construction wherein the slats may be easily replaced in case of damage; and to provide a novel method of making an adjustable blind of the type described. vA further object of the invention is to provide a simplified adjustable blind which is rugged and durable, efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of one form of adjustable blind made in accordance with the present invention with the slats being shown in opened position;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the blind shown in Figure 1 showing the coupling means between the slats and the tilt rod; and

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the manner in which the slats are held in fixed position within a jig during one of the early stages of the assembly of an adjustable blind such as that shown in Figures 1 through 3.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, a blind '11 made in accordance with the present invention includes an outer structural frame 13 which is provided with a generally rectangular opening 15 and an inner assembly 17 which we shall hereinafter refer to as the slat insert. The slat insert 17 comprises a pair of side strips 19 which extend vertically within and along the sides or stiles 21 of the outer .frame'13, a plurality of uniformly-spaced, parallel slats 23 which are pivotally supported between the side strips 19, and an operating bar or tilt rod 27 2,799,061 Patented July 16, 1957 which is coupled to and controls the operation of each of the slats 23.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the major components of the blind, namely the frame 13, side, strips .19, slats 23, and tilt rod 27, are illustrated as being formed of wood. It should be understood that these components may also be formed out of other suitable materials such as metal orplastic. Naturally, certain minor modifications of construction might be required in the interconnection of the-various components, depending upon the ,material being used. It is believed that such changes will be obvious to thseskilled in the .art and therefore will not require a detailed discussion in the following description of the apparatus.

The mainframe 13 includes the vertical stiles 21 and cross members or rails 29 which extend between and connect with the stiles 21. The frame members 21 and 29 are proportioned so as to form a suitably-sized, rectangular opening 15 for supporting the slat insert 17.

The side strips 19 which form part of the slat insert extend between the cross members 29 and are secured to the stiles 21 by means such as the brads 31. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the side strips 19 are provided with suitably proportioned, equi-distantly spaced openings 33 for'receiving pins or studs 35 which extend from the ends of the slats 23. The openings 33 within each of the side strips 19 are vertically aligned and the distance between the adjacent openings is slightly less than the height of the slats 23 so that when the slats are journalled in the side strips and adjusted to a generally vertical position, they will slightly overlap each other.

The slats 23 extend between and are pivotally connected to the side strip 19. The studs '35 which extend from opposite ends of each of the slats 23 are journalled in the drawings or they may be formed separately and threaded or otherwise attached to the ends of the slats 23. The length of each of the studs 35 is approximately equal to the thickness of the side strips 19 and the overall length of each slat 23 and associated studs 35 is slightly less than the separation of the stiles 21 in the outer frame 13, thereby permitting the slats 23 and side strips 19 to fit within the frame. Each of the slats 23 is illustrated as being tapered in transverse cross section and provided with longitudinally extending ribs 37. It should be understood that this design is arbitrary and has no bearing on the present invention. The slats 23 might alternatively be shaped in other ways and substituted for the illustrated slats 23.

Alternatively, it is possible (not shown) to provide each of the side strips with a series of spaced-apart studs and the slats with suitable holes extending inwardly from their end faces. The slats of the assembled blind would then pivot on the studs.

Each of the slats 23 is loosely coupled to the tilt rod 27 so as to be movable to closed or opened position depending on whether the tilt rod 27 is raised or lowered. The tilt rod 27 has a length approximately equal to the distance between the cross members 29 of the frame 13 and is provided with a series of vertically spaced coupling means which engage complementary cooperating coupling means on the slats 23. The spacing between the adjacent coupling means on the tilt rod 27 is equal to the spacing between the adjacent openings 33 in the side strips 19. As shown in Figure l, a recess 49 may be provided in the upper cross member 29 for engaging the upper end of the tilt rod 27 when the tilt rod is in raised position.

In the blind 11 illustrated in the drawings, the uppermost and lowermost slats 23 are each provided with a centrally located, outwardly extending eyelet 41 which is interengaged with a complementary cooperating staple 43 on the tilt rod 27. Each of the remaining or intermediate slats 23 is provided with a centrally located, outwardly extending hook 45 which engages a cooperating staple 43 on the tilt rod 27. The interengaged eyelets 41 and staples 43 limit the movement of the tilt rod 27 relative to the slats 23. The hooks 45 are proportioned so that they remain interengaged with their cooperating staples 43 throughout the limited movement of the tilt rod 27. However, if the eyelets are removed, the tilt rod could be moved so as to simultaneously disengage all of the staples 43 from the hooks 45.

The provision of a tilt rod which is coupled to a portion of the slats in a non-releasable manner and to the remaining slats in a releasable manner is one of the important features of the present invention. The slats which are coupled to the tilt rod in a non-releasable manner may be varied in both number and position provided that they limit the movement of the tilt rod relative to the slats sufficiently to prevent the interengaged, releasabie coupling means from becoming disengaged. Thus, it is immaterial whether the staples 43 are on the tilt rod 27 and the eyelets 41 and hooks 45 are on the slats 23 or whether the staples are on the slats 23 and the eyelets 41 and hooks 45 are on the tilt rod.

Various changes in shape and form of the eyelets 41, staples 43 and hooks 45 may be made provided that such changes do not affect the operational relationship between the coupling means on the slats 23 and the coupling means on the tilt rod 27. In addition, the coupling means may, if desired, be formed integrally with the slats 23 and/ or tilt rod 27.

The blind 11 illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 may be assembled in the following manner. The cross members 29 and stiles 21 of the outer frame 13 as well as the components of the slat insert 17 are first individually formed. The cross members 29 and stiles 21 are assembled into the outer frame 13. The slats 23 are then suitably spaced and aligned by placing the slats within a suitable means such as the jig 51 illustrated in Figure 4. The jig 51 is provided with a series of suitably spaced-apart vertical slots 53 of length approximately equal to the length of the slats 23 for holding the slats 23 in proper vertical alignment while the side strips 19 and the tilt rod 27 are assembled therewith The depth of the slots 53 is such as to permit the slats to extend upwardly from the upper face of the jig 51 a suiiicient distance so as not to interfere with the proper positioning of the side strips 19. The slats 23 may be positioned within the jig 51 either before or after suitable coupling means such as hooks and 45a are attached to the slats. The books 45a are formed so that the open end can be closed to form the eyelet 4-1. In forming the blind illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 of the drawings, the hooks 45a are on the first and last slats 23 in the jig 51 and the hooks 45 are on the remaining slats in the jig. The staples 43 are attached at properlyspaced intervals to the tilt rod 27 at any convenient time. The staples 43 on the tilt rod 27 are interengaged with the hooks 45 and 45a on the slats 23 by proper movement of the tilt rod relative to the slats. After this is done, the free ends of the hooks 45a are bent so as to form the eyelets 41. The side strips 19 are interengaged with the slats 23 while the slats 23 are in the jig 51 either before or after the tilt rod 27 is coupled to the slats 23. Re taining means such as rubber bands 55 may be used to maintain the components of the slat insert 17 in assembled relation. The slat insert 17 may then be removed from the jig 51 and stored.

When one desires to assemble the slat insert 17 within the outer frame 13, one removes the retaining means and positions the slat insert 17 within the outer frame 13.

4 The side strips 19 are then aflixed to the stiles 21 of the frame 13 by means such as brads 31.

A blind such as has been described above is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble, and is rugged and durable in operation. The blind may be easily and speedily disassembled for repair.

Various other changes and modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art may be made in the above described blind Without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Various of the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable blind comprising an outer frame having a generally rectangular opening, a pair of side strips each of a length substantially equal to one dimension of said generally rectangular opening lying flush against and removably attached to the inwardly facing side of one of a pair of opposite members of said frame, a plurality of slats disposed transversely between said pair of side strips, the ends of each of said slats being provided with outwardly extending studs which terminate within openings formed in said side strips whereby said slats are pivotally supported in said side strips, a tilt rod which is loosely coupled to each of said slats through an interengaged, cooperating coupling means for controlling the position of said slats, said coupling means comprising an element on said slat which is interengaged with a separate, cooperating coupling elements on said tilt rod, each of a major number of said coupling means being formed with one of its elements having an interengaged end shaped in the form of a' crook thereby providing an opening therein, and the other of its elements having an interengaged end shaped into a substantially closed loop, so that said elements remain in interengagement throughout a predetermined range of movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats and so as to afford the release of said tilt rod when the latter is moved relative to said slats beyond said range, and at least one of the coupling means having each of its elements shaped into a substantially closed loop thereby providing a non-releasable engagement between the tilt rod and the associated slat, and said one coupling means limiting movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats to said predetermined range.

2. An adjustable blind comprising an outer frame having a generally rectangular opening, a pair of side strips each of a length substantially equal to one dimension of said generally rectangular opening lying flush against and removably attached to the inwardly facing side of one of a pair of opposite members of said frame, a plurality of slats disposed transversely between said pair of side strips, the ends of each of said slats being provided with outwardly extending studs which terminate within openings formed in said side strips whereby said slats are pivotally supported in said side strips, a tilt rod which is loosely coupled to each of said slats through an interengaged, cooperating coupling means for controlling the position of said slats, said coupling means comprising an element on said slat which is interengaged with a separate, cooperating coupling element on said tilt rod, each of a major number of said coupling means being formed with one of its elements having an interengaged end shaped in the form of a crook thereby providing an opening therein, and the other of its elements having an interengaged end shaped into a substantially closed loop, so that said elements remain in interengagement throughout a predetermined range of movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats and so as to afford the release of said tilt rod when the latter is moved relative to said slats beyond said range, and at least two of the coupling means having each of its elements shaped into a substantially closed loop thereby providing spaced non-releasable engagements between the tilt rod and the associated slats, said nonreleasable interengaged coupling means limiting the movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats to said predetermined range, one of said non-releasable interengaged coupling means being located adjacent one end of said tilt rod and a second non-releasable interengaged coupling means being located adjacent the other end of said tilt rod.

3. An adjustable blind comprising an outer frame having a generally rectangular opening, a pair of side strips each of a length substantially equal to one dimension of said generally rectangular opening lying flush against and removably attached to the inwardly facing side of one of a pair of opposite members of said frame, a plurality of slats disposed transversely between said pair of side strips, the ends of each of said slats being provided with outwardly extending studs which terminate within openings formed in said side strips whereby said slats are pivotally supported in said side strips, a tilt rod which is loosely coupled to each of said slats through an interengaged, cooperating coupling means for controlling the position of said slats, said coupling means comprising an element on said slat which is interengaged with a separate, cooperating coupling element on said tilt rod, each of a major number of said coupling means being formed with the element on the slat being a hook so as to provide an interengaged end which has an opening therein, and the cooperating element on the tilt rod being a staple so as to provide an interengaged end shaped in the form of a substantially closed loop so that said elements remain in interengagement throughout a predetermined range of movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats and so as to afford the release of said tilt red when the latter is moved relative to said slats beyond said range, and at least one of the coupling means being formed with the element on the slat being an eyelet and the cooperating element on the tilt rod being a staple thereby providing a nonreleasable engagement between the tilt rod and the associated slat, and said one coupling means limiting movement of said tilt rod relative to said slats to said predetermined range.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 343,724 Palmer June 15, 1886 346,678 Palmer Aug. 3, 1886 369,484 Urich Sept. 6, 1887 1,047,033 Franklin Dec. 10, 1912 1,340,252 Rasmussen May 18, 1920 2,264,161 Hammer Nov. 25, 1941 

